ID :
28344
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 14:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/28344
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea, Canada skirt specifics at beef talks: official
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Canada exchanged views on the possibility of resuming beef imports to the East Asian country without touching on specific issues such as market access, a government official said Tuesday.
"The Canadian side explained what measures they have taken to ensure the safety
of their beef, and South Korean experts asked related questions," said Chung
Hwang-keun, spokesman for the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries.
The second round of technical talks consisted almost entirely of explanations of
their governments' respective views, according to Chung. The talks began on
Monday, and will not be extended.
"The overall negotiations will likely take time," the official said. "The two
sides may agree on arranging a fact-finding visit by South Korean inspectors to
Canada to get a first hand view of measures taken by Ottawa to ensure that sick
animals do not enter the food chain."
Chung added negotiators may also concur on a date for the next round of
negotiations.
Seoul and Ottawa held their first technical consultation meeting last November
without making any headway.
Canada has called for full access to the South Korean market in accordance with a
ruling by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in May 2007.
The OIE gave Ottawa a "controlled risk" classification, which allows it to export
all beef cuts regardless of the cattle's age as long as so-called specified risk
materials (SRM) are removed.
This is the same classification given to the United States. South Korea's ban on
imports of U.S. beef was lifted in April of this year. Imports resumed in June
after Seoul and Washington reached an additional agreement restricting imports to
beef from cattle under 30 months old. Older cattle are supposedly more
susceptible to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.
SRMs comprise organs such as brains, eyes, tonsils and certain parts of the
intestine that run the highest risk of transmitting mad cow to humans.
South Korean officials, however, have countered that because Canada reported 14
confirmed cases of BSE and a domestic law revised in August places tighter
restrictions on imports, Seoul is justified in restricting imports of beef from
younger cattle.
Before imports were banned in May 2003, Canada was the fourth-biggest exporter of
beef to South Korea after the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Canada exchanged views on the possibility of resuming beef imports to the East Asian country without touching on specific issues such as market access, a government official said Tuesday.
"The Canadian side explained what measures they have taken to ensure the safety
of their beef, and South Korean experts asked related questions," said Chung
Hwang-keun, spokesman for the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries.
The second round of technical talks consisted almost entirely of explanations of
their governments' respective views, according to Chung. The talks began on
Monday, and will not be extended.
"The overall negotiations will likely take time," the official said. "The two
sides may agree on arranging a fact-finding visit by South Korean inspectors to
Canada to get a first hand view of measures taken by Ottawa to ensure that sick
animals do not enter the food chain."
Chung added negotiators may also concur on a date for the next round of
negotiations.
Seoul and Ottawa held their first technical consultation meeting last November
without making any headway.
Canada has called for full access to the South Korean market in accordance with a
ruling by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in May 2007.
The OIE gave Ottawa a "controlled risk" classification, which allows it to export
all beef cuts regardless of the cattle's age as long as so-called specified risk
materials (SRM) are removed.
This is the same classification given to the United States. South Korea's ban on
imports of U.S. beef was lifted in April of this year. Imports resumed in June
after Seoul and Washington reached an additional agreement restricting imports to
beef from cattle under 30 months old. Older cattle are supposedly more
susceptible to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.
SRMs comprise organs such as brains, eyes, tonsils and certain parts of the
intestine that run the highest risk of transmitting mad cow to humans.
South Korean officials, however, have countered that because Canada reported 14
confirmed cases of BSE and a domestic law revised in August places tighter
restrictions on imports, Seoul is justified in restricting imports of beef from
younger cattle.
Before imports were banned in May 2003, Canada was the fourth-biggest exporter of
beef to South Korea after the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
